‘One Word- Community’: Indian Man Explains Why He Left US To Return To Punjab

An Indian man has triggered an online debate after sharing why he chose to leave the United States and return to Punjab, saying his decision was rooted in “community” rather than financial considerations.

In a video posted on Instagram, Sanjum Singh Dhaliwal spoke about being questioned over his move back to India despite studying at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“Sanjum, you were at UCLA, California. The weather is so nice, it’s the American dream. Why did you move back to Punjab? One word, community. Three more words, ease of living,” he said in the clip.

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A post shared by Sanjum Singh Dhaliwal | Certified Yapper (@_sangym_)

Dhaliwal illustrated his point through two personal experiences involving car repairs, one in the US

and one in India.

He recalled that while in the US, his car was badly scraped by a government trash truck. According to him, he received little assistance from the city authorities or his insurance provider. Mechanics, he said, were primarily concerned with the high repair costs, which ran into thousands of dollars. Eventually, with help from friends, he replaced the damaged doors himself for about $250.

In contrast, he described a breakdown he faced in India when his car’s clutch pedal stopped working. “I called the mechanic at 1 pm. He was home by 2 pm, took the car to the shop, and told me it would be ready by 7 pm, good as new,” Dhaliwal said. He added that the total bill came to roughly $110.

“There is absolutely no amount of money which could match the level of hospitality, ease, and comfort,” he said, adding that the experience gave him “zero tension.” In the caption of his post, he emphasised that his return was about “community, NOT the price diff.”

On a lighter note, Dhaliwal joked that while community was his “second strongest reason” for moving back, the top reason was “Amritsar kulche.”

Social Media Reactions

The video sparked mixed reactions online, with users debating whether the differences he experienced were due to culture or lower labour costs in India.

One user wrote, “It’s a mix of culture and labour arbitrage. Not saying things are perfect outside, but a lot of our ‘niceness’ is class-based as well.”

Another commented, “The value of labour is less in India. The reason is not community, my dude — the reason is cheap labour around you.”

A third user suggested that life in the US can feel isolating, writing, “Sadly, everyone is in survival mode in the US.”

Meanwhile, another commenter defended the American system, saying, “Our labour is expensive because we value workers. Someone coming at 1 pm to fix a car is a privilege. Building a new community takes time and patience.”

The discussion continues to highlight contrasting perspectives on quality of life, affordability, and the role of community in personal decisions about migration.